Disclaimer: Any recognizable planet, character or organized group belongs to George Lucas. Na?Lein?yhpaon, OC?s, the Kavishka prophecy, etc, belong to me. If you wish to use ANY of them, you must ask first. I am making no money from this; please don?t sue.Summary: When her nephew and news of her home planet arrive, Sanar knows it is time for her to step into the story Devnos told her was true. She returns to Na?Lein?yhpaon with a group of people, including Kyp Durron ? the Kavishka ? by her side to put an end to Jir?s evil regime. Meanwhile, on the other side of life, Devnos Klis is frantic to prevent a secret, dangerous aspect of the prophecy from coming true?Genre(s): drama, romance, fantasy, action, angstKeywords: prophecy, oppression, heroesAuthor?s Note: This is part 3 of the ?Always? trilogy. It is the sequel of [link=http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=14643272]Caught in the Rain[/link], which in turn is the sequel of [link=http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=9257025]Return of the Jedi[/link]. If you want to read this, I highly recommend that you read the first two parts. If you don?t wish to, I would suggest reading ?Caught in the Rain? at least. I will do my best to cover the important points, but background reading will supply something a summary cannot. If you need a summary of the two previous fics, PM me.AN2: I will be doing a little playing around with time in this fic, but I promise to keep things clear, and refrain from changing from point to point on the timeline too much. The future (about a year and a half ahead of the main story) will be in bold, and the ?normal? story will be regular text.Thanks (and/or blame ): To Mel (for the names), and to my readers. I wouldn?t have let myself get so carried away if it wasn?t for your reviews and support. This fic is the last one. Really. ?Okay, so maybe there?s a short story or two after, just to wrap things up. But this is the last novel
Right.

Jarran Klis waited on the shore of the River for his son. It had been a long time, even in Death, but not long enough.

He had not wanted to see his son in the Land of the Dead for many more years, but it could not be helped. Destiny had her way with all of them, and she had few favourites. Jarran had given up on hoping that he might one day join the group of those she loved; that way was reserved for others, who were as removed from his universe as unicorns and centaurs.

In the centre of the River, there was a ripple against the current, and then Devnos appeared from the waist up, blinking around him. Jarran felt his face break into a smile, and he rushed impatiently further ahead, until his ankles were in the River.

For a moment, Devnos accepted his new existence without question, as he should?rare was the person who recognized and refused Death?s gentle forgetfulness.

But then? Jarran knew the exact moment Devnos recognized everything, and the second he stepped back, horrified. ?No! No?I? No!?

Premonition crept along Jarran?s skin, but he pushed it away, refusing to acknowledge the idea. ?Devnos,? he breathed, then called his son?s name more loudly.

Devnos? head snapped up, and for a moment he wavered. ?Father.? So much shame, guilt and love in that word.

Jarran opened his arms, and felt the grateful tears trace the lines of his face. Until now, he had not realized how much he missed his family. ?My son. Come!?

But Devnos? hesitation had left him, and his feet remained firmly in the River. ?I will not,? and Devnos? voice was very cold, ?leave Sanar to fall victim to Prophecy.?

?You can?t stop it,? Jarran told him, pleading with his son to understand, and to give up his futile hopes. ?Sanar will play her part, and??

?And she will hate it!? Devnos screamed back.

Jarran stepped back, startled and hurt, as if his son had punched him in the face. ?The Kavishka??

?Of course you take his side?he?s more your son than I,? Devnos snapped, almost to himself. Gulping large, unnecessary breaths, Devnos paused in his tirade, dark eyes wild.

Hours later, Devnos continued, now in the voice of Jarran?s teenage son explaining a mundane but necessary scene in one of his stories. ?Sanar has had too many choices made for her; if the Prophecy has its way, Sanar will just lose sight of the man in the Kavishka.?

?It cannot be averted.?

Devnos glared, and he looked painfully like the man he had become, and not at all like the boy Jarran remembered. ?She will hate him, and she will be miserable. Is that your ?missing you? gift for your favourite daughter??

?I love my children,? Jarran snapped, losing patience.

?It appears that I love them more than do you,? Devnos retorted. ?Perhaps because I know them, and care little for the Prophecy.?

Jarran was stone-faced. ?The Prophecy cannot be stopped, Devnos.?

Devnos turned away. ?Sanar must have a choice.?

?Choices are a luxury.?

Devnos didn?t seem to hear Jarran?s words; he made no reply as he sank deeper into the River, so that the water covered his head, and he pressed against the boundary of Death and Life.

I was about to start reading this, then my sister kicked me off to do homework! It was terrible! So I've spent the last hour running around, going insane wanting to read this thing! Hehe, anyway, thats my story as to why I didn't steal first post!

What a great start!!! Go Devnos, go! Save Sanar and make her not hate Kyp!

But Devnos is right. Sanar must have a choice in...whatever the nine hells of Corellia this prophecy is...

the Kavishka prophecy. A couple people will be trying to warn Sanar--whether she listens, and whether the warn-ers know enough to actually help, however....that's a whole other story

Erin, great to have you back.

Thanks! it's great to be back

homeboy: she's baaaaaaaaaaaaack!

*waves earnestly*

crap, I'm used to just reading through one story in a few days, but now I have to wait for each post! oh well, it just adds to the Fac Fiction-ness of it all, I suppose.

I know...that's the thing about fanfic *pouts* I haven't been on the boards as much lately, because I've been delving into completed fanfic elsewhere...it's tough to come back, even if I miss the friends....

Rather than tack on a to-be-missed note on my last, long post here....

Don't forget to vote for the [link=http://boards.theforce.net/Fan_Fiction_Resource/b10304/17652104/?58]Beyond the Saga's Readers' Choice Awards[/link]! Story eligibility is May 22, 2004 to Nov. 30, 2004, and nominations are closed December 14th, so light a firecracker and try desperately to remember your favourites!

Okay, so maybe I do But I reward them the best, too! It isn't *all* doom and gloom...just most of it

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update! This one, obviously, is all in bold, so it's 1.5 years ahead of the 'main' story.

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Chapter One: Enough Stories

35 Years Post-ANH

The mirror was cracked, like so many things.

Lera Verili wondered, as she brushed her hair, how long it would take for the nurses to realize this, and replace it. She wondered, then, if they thought she and her roommate were unstable enough to warrant such a concerned reaction. And she wondered that it no longer bothered her that they did.

She touched the glass gingerly, being careful to avoid the sharp, broken edges. Her roommate, Gisel, had punched it in her sleep, and both girls had refrained from mentioning the incident and the nightmares.

That was how it was, in the Chume Ward for the Mentally Unwell.

Giving her hair one last tug, Lera set her brush down, and grabbed her notebook and pen before leaving.

The walls of the hallway stretched before her, and for a moment Lera leaned against her shut door, staring. Each side was painted white, almost glaringly so, and was interrupted only by the doors to other rooms.

I can?t wait to leave.

The thought brought bitterness, but Lera pushed it aside. Why break tradition by being honest with herself? She had ignored her parents? relationship, and her own danger, and she could ignore this, too.

Lera?s feet took her to her therapist?s door, and then through it; she stared at the ends of her socks. Normal shoes were not allowed here?just slippers or socks. As a result, Lera didn?t even have the choice of wearing heels and pretending she was taller.

Not that it mattered, here.

?Lerasina,? Dr. Pilk greeted warmly, smiling.

Lera smiled back, because adults?especially adults with medical training?liked to think that if kids smiled, then they were normal. ?Hi.?

?Take a seat, why don?t you, Lera??

Lera stared at the green, worn couch, and sat on the arm rest. A small defiance on her part, but Dr. Pilk only shook her head before ignoring the action.

Dr. Pilk chattered something about charts, and approval in areas, and asked about some of Lera?s recent visitors. Lera responded mechanically, her thoughts drifting. Through a nearby window, she could see the Ward?s courtyard, the hardiest flowers just beginning to bloom. Moving her mud-brown eyes from there, she found a calendar.

March? Was it only March? Suddenly light-headed, Lera slid from the armrest to deep in the couch.

March. That made it?sixteen months. Sixteen months since it all?

?Lera? Are you listening to me??

Lera flushed, wanting nothing more than to hide under a bed in the dark, where no one could see her. ?Sorry,? she mumbled, pulling on the cuffs of her oversized sweater.

Dr. Pilk sighed and rubbed her scalp in exasperation. ?Lerasina, please don?t start this now. You?re nearly out of here. Isn?t that what you want??

Apparently pleased that she had seized Lera?s complete attention, Dr. Pilk smiled. ?As you would know if you had been listening, yes. However??

There was always a ?however?.

?However, I have one last task for you, before you return home.?

Lera slumped back into her chair, shrinking into herself, preparing for the worst. She could just tell this would hurt. ?What?? she asked, resigned.

Dr. Pilk leaned forward, elbows on datapad on lap. ?Although we know what happened was not entirely you, Lerasina, you must face it?completely and utterly?nonetheless. I want you to choose one way to express everything that happened. Everything. You must exorcise your demons.?

Stars. Painful didn?t even begin to describe this task. Sadistic, maybe. Lera wondered if Dr. Pilk had demon blood, or if she had been possessed by a Sith lord, or if she was a sp